Nursing-garment.



A. H. KNAPP.

NURSING GARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.7, 1913.

1,098, 1 55. Patented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-MEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANouRAPn C0.,WASHXNG"ON, n. c

A. H. KNAPP. NURSING GARMENT. APPLIOATION FILED Mum, 1913.

1,098, 1 55. Pa ented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH CO-,WA5H|NOTON. D. c.

ALICE H. KNAZPP, 0F ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY.

NURSIN'G- GARMENT;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914..

Application filed March 7, 1913. Serial No. 752,782.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALICE KNAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asbury Park, in the county of Monmouth, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nursing- Garments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention "relates to wearing apparel and has particular application to certain novel and useful improvements in a waist or similar upper garment adapted to to be worn by nursing mothers.

In carrying out my invention it is my purpose to provide a nursing garment which is so designed and constructed that when it is desired to nurse theinfant the latter may be placed at the breast without the inconvenience, embarrassment and exposure usually incident to the wearingof the ordinary form of waist or like upper garment.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a special type of nursing garment wherein the necessity of partly undressing, as is required when an ordinary waist opening in the back or center front is worn, is entirely eliminated. Furthermore, the rapid destruction of the mothers ordinary garments due to constant soiling while the child is nursing is entirely avoided and the consequent expense incident to replaceing such ruined clothing is obviated.

Still a further object is to provide agarment which when not in use is so disposed and secured as to have the appearance of an ordinary waist, so that its functions-will not be evident to ordinary observation, while when it is desired to proceed with the nursing the garment may be quickly arranged for such purpose.

Vith the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred type of my nursing garment and showing one of the trimming bands or plaits turned back with the closure flap for one of the breast openlngs of the garment opened to substantially the position of actual use, the opposite breast opening and flap of the garment being closed by the overlying trimming band or plait. Fig. 2 is a front view of a portion of the waist shown in F 1 With the coverlng or concealing plait removed, in this case the flap being formed integral with the material of the waist portion, and is shown in buttoned position. Fig. 3 is a view of the inner face or back portion of the waist section shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a front view of a section of a modified style of garment, in this case the closure flap for the breast opening constituting a separate piece which is attached to one piece of the waist at the structural seam thereof. Fig. 5 is a view of the inner face of the waist section shown in Fig. l and showing the separate sections stitched at the structural seam of the waist section. Fig. 6 is a front view of a waist section showing another style of modified form, in this form the-flap constituting a separate piece stitched to a vertical seam adjacent the breast opening. Fig. 7 is a view of the opposite or inner face of the garment section shownin Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 'is a' similar sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 10 1O of Fig. 6.

In the .present instance I have shown my lnventionas embodled 1n the form of an outside waist, although I wish it to be underto permit ready and convenient access for the purpose of nursing, these openings being adapted to be closed by means of flap members which may be formed integral with the material of the waist, or may be in the nature of separate pieces stitched or otherwise fastened to the body of the waist alongside the openings. I have herein shown and described three novel and distinct arrangements of the flap, for it will be seen that in the styles shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings the peculiarly constructed flap is out from the same piece of material as the adjacent waist section, while in Fig. 4 the flap is a separate piece attached to the structural seam of the garment which extends from the lower edge of the waist to the shoulder and in Fig. 6 I show the separate flap attached to a short seam, while the structural seam from the shoulder to the bottom ec ge of the waist is omitted.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail and particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the letter A designates a nursing garment embodying my invention. In the front of the waist and directly over each breast I form an opening 1 by cutting the material of the waist on the vertical line 2 and the horizontal lines 33. By so cutting the open ing 1 form an elongated recess over the breast which, when the covering flap, hereinafter described, is pushed to one side will permit the material forming the sides of the opening to be separated or drawn apart to a greater extent than were the sides of such opening formed closer together as by the mere act of vertically slitting the material. in Figs. 1 to 3 I provide a closure for the opening which is in the nature of a flap 4; formed integral with the material of the waist, atone of the longitudinal sides of the opening, this flap being of suitable size and of proper shape to overlap and close the openin and is preferably formed of a double thickness of material united by a line of stitching 5. This flap is further provided with a vertically arranged row of buttons 6 spaced a suitable distance apart adapted to be passed through corresponding button holes 7 formed in the material of the waist adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge of the opening 1. It will of course, be understood that other means for fastening the flap in its closed position may be employed in lieu of buttons and buttonholes, but the lateral manner is preferable, for the reason that the buttons are easily manipulated and do not require undesirable pressure against the breasts, as is the case with snap fasteners and other forms of fastening means.

If desired, each breast opening when closed by a flap may be covered by a band of trimming or a plait 8 adapted to extend vertically from the shoulder to a point adjacent the waist of the person, and this plait as is shown in Fig. 1 may be stitched as at 9 at the shoulder portion of the garment, while the breast section and lower portion of the plait illustrated at 10 is free or unattached so that it may be thrown back or to one side to expose the breast opening when the infant is to be nursed. In nursing, this plait or trimming material may be draped in such manner as to provide further concealment. When both the plaits or trimming bands overlie the openings and their flaps, the latter are completely concealed, and as the lower ends of the plaits may be fastened into the garment adjacent the waist, as by means of the buttons 11, the garment will have the appearance of an ordinary outer waist. In Figs. et and 5 the closure flap for each breast opening 1, is shown at 12, and is in the nature of a separate piece stitched to one longitudinal side of the opening along the structural seam 13 of the waist which seam runs vertically of the garment.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the flap for each opening 1 is in the nature of a separate piece shown at 14:, which is attached at one longitudinal side of the opening by means of the short seam or line of stitching shown at 15. The utility and value of the flap is the same in all the styles shown, whether it be cut as a part of the garment, or as a separate piece attached by means of the structural seam, or a separate piece attached to the backward edge of a short seam which does not run beyond the ends of the flap which is placed underneath.

If desired, an appearance of extra fullness over the bust may be given by making a tuck of suitable width, for instance an inch at each side near the arm scye and shown at 16, this being stitched down for a few inches and its fullness released directly opposite the opening.

It will be seen that I have provided a novel, convenient and neat appearing garment for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned, and which may be readily adapted for use when it is desired to nurse, while at other times it may be arranged to have the appearance of an ordinary waist.

While I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claim.

Nhat is claimed is:

A nursing garment having a pair of vertical openings formed therein adapted to overlie the breasts of the wearer, and a closure flap for each opening connected at its outer vertical longitudinal edge portion to the material of the garment adjacent the outer longitudinal edge of the opening, said garment at a point adjacent its lower end flap being folded inward across the opening portion. t 10 to close the latter when not in use, means for In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature, fastening the flap in its closed position, and in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

a strip of material fastened to the upper ALICE H. KNAPP. portion of the garment and adapted to over- Witnesses:

lie the flap and opening, said material CHARLES E. COOK,

adapted to be detaohably fastened to the J. W. SILVERSTEEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

